Running backs off to solid start, but it’s early
FOXBORO — On a wet, rainy and windy day behind Gillette Stadium, Patriots running backs had their bright spots.
On the slick track, they made sharp cuts in individual drills. They executed screens with precision. Rex Burkhead showed off a nice set of hands, and D.J. Foster made two spectacular grabs for touchdowns — one from Tom Brady, another from Jacoby Brissett — to hoots and hollers from teammates.
But running backs coach Ivan Fears, as he does every year at this stage, pounded home a familiar message: Calm down. Without pads and full contact, this isn’t the time for real evaluation.
“And stop talking about shorts and T-shirts. Everybody’s been looking good in shorts and Tshirts,” Fears said while answering a question about Burkhead, the free agent acquisition from Cincinnati. “Come on, man! Jeez! I better look good in shorts and T-shirts.
“Well, I gotta take that back. But, no, seriously, you know it doesn’t count.”
With a unit that includes fellow newcomer Mike Gillislee (signed away from the Buffalo Bills), Dion Lewis, James White, Brandon Bolden and Foster, who spent most of last season on the practice squad, fans are anxious to see how the depth chart shakes out.
With LeGarrette Blount taking his 18 touchdowns last season to Philadelphia via free agency, the early-down role is up for grabs. White, who signed a three-year extension last month, is likely to retain his spot as the third-down option after a brilliant Super Bowl LI. Where does that leave Lewis? Is Gillislee taking over for Blount? Or will it be Burkhead? Or both? Is Burkhead going to push Bolden, who is primarily a special teams player, off the roster?
None of these questions will be answered in May, but Fears isn’t sweating the uncertainty.
“It’s kind of hard to say about that part, but it always works itself out,” he said. “That’s why you practice. That’s why you have the preseason games. You put the pads on. They will separate themselves. And when they do, it makes it a little easier to see it. You’ll see it. So, I think we’ve just got to bide our time and let it take place. As far as the game goes, you know we like playing a lot of guys and we’re going to take the best of everybody that’s on the squad and try to use it. So, we use a lot of guys.”
Fears alluded to Gillislee being a little banged up at this early stage, but did not go into detail. Regardless of his health, Gillislee’s presence — along with everyone in a group that has depth and talent — only helps.
“Yes. Oh my goodness, yes. That’s perfect,” Fears said. “It makes everybody in the room better to have that kind of competition.”
And when T-shirt and shorts time is finished, the real competition begins.